Tuesday, February 23, 2016

My Life As A Tennis Ball

As I wrote yesterday's post, pondering the bouncing that I've been required
to do, I found myself thinking about tennis balls. It, of course,
doesn't hurt that over the past week, I have both watched and played a fair amount of tennis. But truthfully, who among us doesn't feel a bit like a
tennis ball sometimes? I mean, what other ball is both fuzzy and
fluorescent? We might feel new and bright and bouncy, or we might feel
faded and old and flat, but either way, there's a racquet waiting to
send us flying. And another across the way to pummel us--or deliver
us--once again. Sometimes, the flight is exhilarating, sometimes, it is
just another hit. And either way, we, a little tough, but a little
fuzzy, stay in the game.

It is nice to be the bright, bouncy ball, ready for the hits, and
excited for the ride. But when our bounce is a little gone, and our
bright colors are a little worn, it's also nice to know that we still
have a place in the game. We are still worthy of the power of the
players. We are still worthy of the focus that makes the match exciting.

So, when it begins to feel as though we should be traded in for what is
brighter and bouncier, we can try to remember that there is almost certainly a
place for the not quite so bouncy. There is still value we can add,
even if we're feeling not so fuzzy, and not so ready for the hit. In
the hands of those who keep at it, we are still part of the excitement.
And isn't that what the game--be it tennis or life--is all about?

About the Blogger

Tracy Casper Lang worked for close to 23 years in the production of soap operas, mostly at ABC's long running One Life to Live. Now that soap opera production has just about left New York, she reflects on her journey into new production areas and shares behind-the-scenes memories from half a lifetime in the in the soaps.